Ice making machine



R. J. SHARP Y ICE MAKING MACHINE ocr, 2s; V1947.

Filed Sept. '10, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 www@ v/N VENTOR R. J. SHARPv vICE: MAKING MACHINE Fileasepn 1o, 1945 ocr. 28, l1947.

4 Sheets-SheetA 2 35M/)CK I/Lm @Ff [N VENTOR Oct; 28, 1947. R. J. SHARP ICE MAKING MACHINE Filed sept. 1o, 1945 4 sheets-sheet s E/vw/c/f SHA/ee I [N VENTOR A TTORNE i' ICE MAKING MACHINE Filed sept. 1o, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Oct. 28, 1947 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE Y Y ICE MAKING MACHINE Renwick'J. Sharp, Guatemala, Guatemala Application September 10, 1945, Serial No. 615,387

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to ice making machines. More particularly the inventionl relates to a machine for the freezing of ice, said machine including a double walled mold and cooling coils therefor, Vprovision being made for introducing a heat mediumV into thewalls and around the cooling pipes to defrost the walls engaged by the ice; and it is an important object of the linvention to provideamachine capable of producing ice, embodying Ythese characteristics.

Another novel characteristic embodied in the present invention and constituting a further important .object of vthe invention. is the .improved means forlagitating the water to be frozen. This, in thepast, has vusually/been accomplished by passing. a single thin tube into the center of the mold which hangs .in the `cold brine and passing a stream ofV clean airV down to as near the bottom of the mold asv possible. The rising bubbles cause a gentle current inside the mold andas a result only pure Water isV passing into a solid state leaving ther natural salts in the water to be progressively concentrated in the center of the forming block. Beforethis process has continued to such an extent that there is danger of the airl tube sticking into thefreezing mass the tube is withdrawn and then the corebf brackish water. is sucked out from above.V

In regard to above statedprior art my machine is unconventional. My.` device is moldless and once the, ice making compartments are illed to the overow point with raw waterand the freezing cycle commenced, air is introduced into the water from below at the floor level of the ice compartment. The air bubbles float to the surface and cause a gentle current similarto the conventional .way as justexplained, but with this diierence however, when the l,ice has formed` to such a thickness onto the side Walls, that it is imperative forthe core water to be removed, this centered brackish core water is allowed to gravitate out-of the same pipe through Ywhich the air was formerly introduced. After these core centers have beenremoved as just stated, fresh water can then be introduced via the same air line yfrom avwatersource governed by a different ,valve .in theline which leads into the air line under the ice compartments.

AV'A still further object resides in the provision of guide means in the bottom of the compartments lto.V restrain the ice block `from, sliding around,

sticking to the walls 'andmaintaining it motionless whilebeing sawed into the proper lengths as itis'projected from the compartments. In

this respect still further objects reside inv theV provision of improved' means for gaging, jig-sawing and collecting the ice blocks as they leave their respective compartments.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision for defrostingthe double floor independently of the freezing'walls, thus keeping a weepy-seat under the ice blocks to insure their being slidably removable.

Remaining objects include the provision of an ice making machine wherein 'the ice blocks are pulled horizontally; the provision of a machine which can be sold in units with provision for adding other units'as desired; the provision of a machine wherein installation costs are less,A and fewer dismantled parts are to be re-set up.

Together with the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention still further residesV in the novel arrangement and combination'of parts and the novel details of constructionV hereinafter more fully described and claimed, it being understood that the invention is not limited in its application to theV details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in .the accompanying. drawingssince the invention is capable of other embodiments and beingpracticed or car- :ried out in possible other various ways.A Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology hereinV employedV is for the purpose of description and not one of limitation, and it is not intended to limit ,the herein claimed invention beyond the requirements of prior art.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate what at present is deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of the device, the cover `for the triple ice freezing unit being shown in theV down-swung, open position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation partly in section.

Fig. 2a is a fragmentary front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2, the ice-removing picks being shown in'an elevated position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on Fig, 2. l f

Fig. 4 is a sectionaldetail taken through one of the freezing walls; v Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5.-5 of Fig. 4.

une 3 3 of Fig. 'l isa fragmentary longitudinal section, r*the line of section being indicated by irregular line 'l-l in Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectiontaken online8-8 ofFigfl. g y

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on line Ill-I of Fig. 7; a fragmentary top portion being shown in plan.

Fig, 11 is a fragmentary top plan view.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the elongated box or casing I is supported by and between anchored uprights 2 and containing a plurality of longitudinally extending ice-containing chambers interiorly lined with stainless steel, in the present instance there being three such chambers numbered 3, 3a and 3b, in the single unit shown. Said chambers are furnished with a double-walled door 4 which is held in a water tight relation to the three chamber openings, 5 by upper and lower tightening latches 6 which cooperate withV keepers 'I and side fastenings 8 engagable by the catches 9. Said door is supported in the open position by lmeans of a pin II) and the cooperating hooked piece II.

There is a double walled floor space I2, Figs. 2 and 3, below said chambers, a double walled ceiling space I 3 above said chambers, a double walled rear end space I4 (Fig. 10) and double walled side spaces I5 and I6 at the right and left of the chambers with double walled intervening spaces I'I and I8 between said double walled side spaces. The double walled spaces I5, I6, I'I and I8 constitute the four freezing walls inside of which are located the expansion coils I9 of calculated size.

The round pipe which ordinarily forms the expansion coil is, in the present instance, rolled in such a manner that, on either side it is partially flattened at as shown in increased scale in Fig. 4'. This allows for a larger area. of contact between the pipe and its side walls which walls must transmit the heat from the water to be frozen. The expansion coils are not rigidly fixed inside their supporting walls but are sustained suspended therebetween by means of countersunk rivets 2l external to the coiled pipes as shown clearly in Figs. 4 to 6.

Water to be frozen is introduced to the several ice chambers from the bottom it being supplied from a tank 22 located atop of the casing I. The conduit means whereby this supply is rendered possible consists of the valved conduit 23 which connects the water tank to the Ll-way connection 24. From this connection the water is conducted through a conduit 25 which is suppliedv with three distributing connections 26, 21 and 28 and these connections in turn individually supply the longitudinally extending conduits 29, one under each chamber, from which the water is conducted vertically upward through longitudinally spaced pipe sections 36, 3I, 32 and 33 into the chambers 3, 3a and 3b, there being a pipe section 34 extending vertically from each connection 26, 2 and 28 which communicates with a chamber bottom and to each pipe section 34 is connected a horizontal extending branch conduit 35 whose mouth is directed vertically upward and also communicates with a chamber bottom at a point spaced forwardly of the pipe sections 34.

Connection 2,4 has the opening opposite the intake opening of the valved conduit 23 connected to a nipple 36 to which inturn is fastened a drain y valveA 31; and opening into said connection oppo- 32, 33, 34 fand 35 in the bottom of the ice chambers 3, 3a and 3b into the freezing water. When it is desired to remove the core water, instead of sucking a plurality of mold cores, it is only necessary to open the drain valve 37, after first closing the valve 4I in the supply line, and the core water flows out. Then fresh water can be introduced to the point of over-flow controlled by the raw water faucet 42 provided for'the box for the three ice chambers and the freezing of the ice completed.

A combination ice pan and ice-measuring device 43V (Fig. 1) is provided comprising a horizontally supported pan 44, the rear side portions of which are attached to the lower part of the front portion of the machine as shown by the flanged part 45 in Figs. 2 and 2a, the front thereof being supported by one or more floor-engaging feet 46. Said measuring device also includes an upstanding bail-like member having :at its ends downwardly directed legs 4.1' which are secured in an adjustable manner tothe side walls of the pan. Legs 4l of said device 43 have nat bottomed feet 41a which engage the floor of the pan 44 to keep said device in an upstanding position in all of its adjustments.

By preference and as shown the adjustment is obtained by providing said side walls with horizontal slots 43 through which extend threaded studs 49 fixed to the legs, clamping arms 50 screwing onto the outer end portions of these studs. The slotted portions 48 of the pan sides are provided with graduated scales 5I to indicate how far the ice has been projected from the ice cham. bers preparatory to sawing it off adjacent to the door openings by means of the traveling motordriven jig-saw 52 provided for that purpose. The aforementioned bail-like member is provided with a horizontal brace bar 53, the ice abutting against this bar when it has been forced out to the predetermined measured extent.

The means for projecting the elongated frozen blocks of ice forwardly against the measuring device comprises the handle 54 and pick arrangei ment 55 mounted atop the machine, there being rows of slots 55 in the wall above the ceiling space I3 which vertically aline with slots 5T in the wall and adjacent lining therebelow in which the ice picks operate as the handle 54 is rocked in a slot 58 in the guide bar 59 and then pulled forwardly. Rails 3D situated longitudinally on either side of the openings of the pipe sections 36, 3l, 32, 33, 34 and 35 cooperate with the ice picks 6I to keep the ice blocks from slipping during sawing, once they are freed from the surrounding walls by defrosting- The jig-saw unit 62 is mounted to move backwardly and forwardly in front of the chamber openings, an iron rail 63 being provided as a track therefor, said rail being in the form of a U with the arms of the U embracing the top and bottom walls of the machine. The jig-saw unit'is provided with a handle 64 whereby the saw 52 is held against the ice blocks during sawing, said handle being also used to propel the saw along its track. A spring 35 is also provided in the jigsaw unit for augmenting the downward cutting of the jig-saw. As the electric jig-saw is passed in front ofthe chamber openings the ice blocks are sawed into unit size whence they drop into the pan 44 from which they are either placed aboard a wagon or stored for future use.

Some standard form of refrigerating unit suitable to supply the expansion` coils with a refrigerant, whereby the water in the supplied comagape@ b'tiints'isjfrzen; is 'furnished init-rifecon'4 tic'r'ialu'it10'inounted ato'p'tlie rear endi-f'o the n'iabhi'ne. From this lunitmuns a/ pipe 1 Iproffidedwinian expansinvalveuz; ,saicrpipe4 enters tle'top"y wallif'the 'maclfiirieY Aas seen :in Fig' 11 i'dis'poject'e'd downwardlyin the Space'l4 ig. erro a' point 'adjacent the nor-m-'1ine'-iwithand 'ithe rear of the space' I 5 "(right portion'of 'F ig.f2)f. Frmjthispoint the pipe' is dircteefhcfizentaiiy 'a'ridlien'is caused'to run" upwardlyr iifja serpen-L 'tine fa'shionthroughout the length Vand height of th'e.spabe"|5, the'u'pper rurrof the pipe theb'ein'g directed horizontally through said^"'space-l 4* to a 'point'opposit'e tothenext" inter-'wall sp'ae I8. 'Thereupon said Apipe` directed 'downwardly jte afpoint'adjacent' to 'the iio'or and' oppositeftofthe lowe'rporti'onpf said space I8.V From this point said .pipe is directed'v4 horizontally" forwardas fthe 'lowefrunofan ascendingserieso'f 'runs in 'Said space"18'in the` sam'e mannen-as thse'irifspace I 5, already described." This' arrangement of com mu'nicating series kof` ascending serpentine 'f pipe runs 'is' continued through the intere-Wall spaces I1'and I6; the pipe havingfa terminalfrunifsee Fig. '10) locatedontop of the casing'to return the refrigerant to therefrigerating ur1`it1Il.I e I Thecontinuity"of-"travel of the refrigerant in a` serpentine fashion' asjustdescribed" where itiis changed from a" liquid "toa gas andvice versa is wellkn'own and constitutes per s'enoh'part "of `the present inventionjihence `further description kthereof is"deemed unnecessary.However; the presence of the coils in the double wallsjrand the manner Aof defrosting wherebythe` ice" is loosened from the freezing walls'iswan important object of this invention 'and the mannerV inI whichfthis result; is achieved will now,beset'forthl""` 'Subja'cent the machine! is situated atank '88 containinga suitable'oilwhichiskeptf s uiciently hot for luse in defrostingby electricity thermostatically'controlled. For Ycirculating the o'il If'provide "a 'pump-v BI. H'Considering rst -th'e door 4, it is made double walled (seeFigsrS, '7 and 10) thereby providing an oil-containing `L chamber within'it. Communicating with the upperportin o f said door chamber is a flexible `conduit82 leading from the fixture 83 in the main distributing conduit 84. A check valve 85 is shown in theconduit 82 adjacent a side edge kof the door. Leading from the'lower side edge of saiddoor'i's a second-flexible conduit 86 through which the oil is `drained backV into the tank 80 throughth'e medium ofthe conduit 81- including the fitting `88 to which thefflexible conduit 86 is connected.Y

The spaces I2 and I4 in the double walled floor andren'd wall mai7` be heated independentlyfof the door and freezing walls I6, I1; yI8 and'li'. This'isrdesirable in order to free the ice from the bottom of the ice `compartments andto provide a Weepy-Seat for the ice to aid its'slipping. For this purpose-I provide- 'a pipe section 90v (see Fig. 7) leading from the distributing conduit 84 and opening into the space I2. For the return Yof -the heated floor and end wall liquid I provide the valved pipe-sectionl which communicates with the fitting 92 in the conduit 81.'l v f i The spacesv I5, I1. I8 and' I5 in the freezing wallsare suppliedY with a hot liquid fby=m`eans of the conduit 93 which branchesoffdnfa direction both to the right and to the left from the maindistributing conduit 84 as seen in-Fig.- 9. 1 From said Abranched conduit 93 horizontal pipe-sections 94 conduct the liquid through the openings in the verticalpipe sections 95into the bottoms of the-'respective hollow freezing walls. 'The' pump fit 4fris x '..Yopbmtion v M s e V Jriover I locked inplace, 'water 1s permitted tofiio'wjfromthe tank ,224 intothe ice compatnientsf'a and v3b through the pipe sec- "20 'tions'- sojsjl; a2; 33134 and er, until the point of overilow determined by the faucet 42 is reached. With the compartments lled to the predetermined mark the compressor of the refrigerating rinitis started and the refrigerant passes continuously into the expansion pipes I9 situated ins'ide'the' freezing walls I6, I1, I8 and I5 and whichla're in plain contact with them. Heat is withdrawn from the water slowly, which at the same time isbeingy gently agitated by -air bubbles rising from'fthe pipe sections 38, 3I,`32, 33,k 34 and 35 supplied by the air compressor 40 after 'tl' closingl'o'f the Valve4 4I, fresh airvbeing il- I'Jeied by means'of a suitable air filter |04 attached to the compressor.

The.concentration of brackish water towards 'thecenterlli'nev .of the' individual compartments takes placas the' purewatr loses its latent heat ,and deposits.itself by freezing on the growing bulge of icev forming on the freezing Walls as they .advance to joinat -themiddle. This' advance Storjoi'n isihaitee before its compienon because of the necessity" to removeas much' of the salty water as possible from the freezing ice, tending to shortenireezing time and to keep as little as 'possible ofafwhite center ormcore in the finished ice: blocks. ThisV action is'V temporarily arrested byjstopping v the air` compressor and openingthe drainfvalve-26V thus allowing'the brackish core Water" `between-the` forming ice bulges to flow fout vNext -thekvalve 26 is closed'and the valve I 'Ifopened'ginorder `to introduce pure water into the ice cores vacated by the brackish core water and filling to the overflow mark as before, whence the freezing-fpr`ocess is 'continued lwith the only 'diiTerence-thatths time no more air is sent into Vthecenter; The mass freezes slowly, finally closy ing the -center'- line solid, leaving a white line of minimumY thicknessat the ypoint vof closing contact ofthe two -oppositely formed bulges, n--"I`l1er`up0r`1, refrigeration is stopped and the centrifugal pump 8I'fis started operating. By opening-the 'valvei837A the hot liquid is pumped intothe'freezing walls atthe bottom through pipe sections 95 and zig-zags vits way to the topV of f vsaidwalls. 'Simultaneously the hot liquid is sent intoithe double metal` face of the door 4 melting itawayerfrom 'Atheehds'of the ice blocks.' This y defrosting vis-ke'ptup until the walls are melted clearwof the icel'blocks' after which the hot liquid 701 is -causedto-circulate between the double bottom 75:2,Thefzpckxhandle. 54 is then operated to drive theY picks 56 into the ice blocks within the compartments, after which the handle is pulled and the three blocks of ice slide forwardly on the rails 68 and Weepy floors to emerge from the openings of their compartments. Once these blocks are fully out and touching the gage 43, the picks together with the rails serve to clamp the ice blocks while the saw 52 saws off the pre-calculated sized pieces.

The two track rails of each refrigerating compartment project upwardly as to their widths from the floor of the compartment and therefore become embedded in the lower portion of each ice-block formed. When these rails b-ecome heated by the defrost-ing liquid the ice block no longer adheres to them so that they then loosely occupy grooves in the lower face of the block. Hence, while projecting end portions of the block are being sawed in the manner which has been described, said rails stabilize the block against displacement notwithstanding the lateral pressure of the saw thereagainst.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus of the kind described, a casing containing an elongated ice compartment with a door opening at an end thereof, a door for said opening, track means in the lower part of said compartment and positioned to guide ice blocks therefrom through said door opening, an ice saw unit including a saw proper and an operating motor therefor, and a track for said saw unit positioned to guide it back and forth in front of said door opening while being operated to saw on the protruding portion of an. ice block.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, and said saw track having two parallel portions one of which is located above said door opening and the other therebelow and said saw unit having a two part means for mounting the saw proper, one part of said means traveling along said upper portion of the track and the other part thereof traveling along said lower track portion with the saw proper extending between them.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus of the kind described, a casing. containing an elongated rectangularly shaped ice compartment witha door opening at an end thereof, a door for said opening, there being a longitudinally extending row of apertures opening into the bottom side of said ice compartment, and a rail on the floor of said compartment a parallel spaced relation to each side of said row of apertures and extending from front to rear of said ice compartment.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus of the kind described, a casing containing an elongated ice compartment with a door opening at an end thereof, a door for said opening, track means in the bottom of said compartment and positioned to deliver ice blocks therefrom through said door opening, ice-receiving means in front of said door opening to underlie projecting end portions ofice blocks protruding through said door opening, an ice saw unit including a saw proper and an operating motor therefor, a track for said saw unit positioned to guide it back and forth in front ofV said door opening While being operated tol saw off the protruding portion of an ice block, and ice measuring means comprising a stopcarried by said ice-receiving means and adjustable at varying distances from the door opening, the projecting ends of the ice blocksbeing abuttable against said stop.

5. In a refrigerating machine of the kind described, an elongated refrigerating'compartment substantially rectangular in cross section and having a door opening in an end thereof through which ice-blocks. frozen therein are withdrawable, a floor for said compartment, and an ice track in the bottom portion of said compartment comprising a plurality of rails which as to their heights upstand from said floor so as to have their upper portions embedded in the ice-block formed in said compartment, defrosting means constructed and arranged to defrost the ice from wall portions and the floor of said compartment and warm said rails so as to loosen a formed iceblock from them, means to move said ice-block along said track in a direction to project its end portion outwardly through said door opening predetermined distances, and means mounted adjacent to said door opening to saw oif the projecting portion of said ice-block.

6. The subject matter of claim 5, and said ice sawing means comprising a verticallyextending saw blade mounted to cut into one of the Vertical sides of the projecting portion of the ice-block occupying said door opening, said rails at such time loosely occupying grooves in the lower face of the ice-block to hold the block stationary against the action of the saw blade.

'7. In a refrigerating apparatus of the kind described, ar casing comprising double walls, means to introduce water to be frozen in the space surrounded by said double walls, refrigerating means including a sinuous refrigerant conduit having reversely directed runs fitted between the side portions of said double walls, said conduit runs being fastened where they engage said side portions, thereby increasing the refrigerating action, balile plates associated with alternate bends in said sinuous conduit thereby forming between the runs of said conduit a second back-and-forth iiuid now channel, and means to cause a defrosting liquid to enter and nll said second back-andforth fluid flow channel, said sinuous conduit having back and forth runs united by bent portions, said bent portions having depressions in them through which the defrosting liquid passes as it iows through said second back-and-forth fluid flow channel.

8. In a refrigerating apparatus of the kind described, a casing containing an elongated ice compartment with a door opening at an end thereof, a door for said opening, track means in the bottom of said compartment and positioned to guide ice blocks therefrom through said door opening, ice-receiving means in front of said door opening. to underlie projecting end portions of ice blocks protruding through said door opening, ice measuring means comprising a stop carried by said ice-receiving means and adjustable at varying distances from the door opening, the projecting ends of the ice blocks being abuttable against said stop, and means for projecting an elongated frozen ice block forwardly from said ice compartment against said measuring device, the latter means com rising a pick and handle therefor mounted atop the casing, there being a longitudinally extending slot in the top wall of said casing which verticall;7 alines with a longitudinally extending slotV in the ceiling of said ice compartment therebelow which said pick operates -by manually rocking said handle and pulling said handle forward.

- 9. In a refrigerating apparatus of the kind described, acasing containing an elongated ice compartment with a door opening-at an end thereof, a door for said opening, track means in the bottom of said compartment and positioned to guide ice blocks therefrom through said door opening, and means mounted atop said casing and extendable into said ice compartment for projecting said ice blocks through said door opening.

10. The subject matter of claim 9, and, said track means comprising a, plurality of rails which as to their heights upstand from the bottom of said compartment so as to have their upper portions embedded in the ice-block formed in said compartment.

11. In a refrigerating apparatus of the kind described, a, casing containing an elongated ice compartment with a door opening at an end thereof, a door for said opening, track means in the bottom of said compartment and positioned to guide ice blocks therefrom through said door opening, means mounted adjacent to said door opening to saw off the projecting portion of said ice-blocks, and means mounted atop said casing and extendable into said ice compartment for projecting said ice blocks through said door opening.

12. 'Ihe subject matter of claim 11, and said ice sawing means comprising a vertically extending saw blade mounted to cut into one of the 10 vertical sides of the projecting portion of the ice-block occupying said door opening, said ice projecting means cooperating with said track means to keep the ice blocksl from slipping during the sawing operation.

13. The subject matter of claim 8 and, a guide bar including a longitudinally extending slot secured atop the casing, said handle being slidably mounted in said guide bar slot to move the ice blocks forwardly through the medium of said pick.

RENWICK J. SHARP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,094,774 Dawson Oct. 5, 1937 1,464,433 Lindsay Aug. 7, 1923 530,526 Holden Dec. 11, 1874 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 179,393 Great Britain May 11, 1922 

